Good Recommendation for Mini Excavator??

Looking for a good used mini excavator or a small regular excavator that we could do small clearing jobs with and do some clearing, etc. at our properties. We want a small one or a mini because of our budget and we need to be able to haul with with our 1 ton dually. Would like to cap our spending to no more than 20k to 22k for a good used machine. Of course the cheaper the better (probably need to go to an auction). We currently have an old late 70's/early 80's Case 580C backhoe, a 1974 John Deere 450C Track Loader, and a 2003 John Deere 240 Skid Steer.

Re: Good Recommendation for Mini Excavator?? in reply to Ted Maxwell, 08-11-2014 12:33:38

Yes. That is it. The KX-71-3. Think that is a good machine?? I was wanting he biggest mini I could get an still be able to haul with my dually. This one looks nice to me. The company name on it is actually a local service company where I live. Think they would give me the history on it?

AJ. said: (quoted from post at 05:07:00 09/12/14) That's a decent looking machine,low hours too,it looks to be all intact and piped for breaker,you will probably want more than one bucket,it is in its work clothes and would clean up very well,there does not appear to be any damage that is visible,as I had a bit of a job to find it I but a link direct to the page its listed on,the second link below is to Ritchies where you can look up the specs.

Re: Good Recommendation for Mini Excavator?? in reply to rtr, 08-11-2014 12:33:38

That's a decent looking machine,low hours too,it looks to be all intact and piped for breaker,you will probably want more than one bucket,it is in its work clothes and would clean up very well,there does not appear to be any damage that is visible,as I had a bit of a job to find it I but a link direct to the page its listed on,the second link below is to Ritchies where you can look up the specs.

Re: Good Recommendation for Mini Excavator?? in reply to rtr, 08-11-2014 12:33:38

If it is mini here in the UK its most likely to be Hitachi,back in the 90's for a while Hitachi were involved with Fiat to get around the EEC import regulations they lost a bit of ground,Fiat are no longer involved and that means the machines we get now are Jap built and are much sought after,its clear cut here,if you want a big dozer it's Cat or Komatsu,excavators Hitachi or Komatsu and backhoes JCB or Case,there are plenty of other makes too with Volvo creeping up the ladder,too many to mention.

Re: Good Recommendation for Mini Excavator?? in reply to rtr, 08-11-2014 12:33:38

Opinions will differ, never came across any Kubota Case machines in my neck of the woods,the Jap built Case here is built by Sumitomo and the small ones powered by Yanmar,before that was the unsuccessful Case Poclain range,when Case took over Poclain Excavators they found that the patent rights for the Poclain hydraulic system was not included,Poclain hydraulics are still in business but no longer build excavators,before that Case used Drott,all sorts of machines comes into my place for repairs and I know from what has to be done to keep them in working condition and satisfy the H&S that Hitachi built machines are the easiest for the contractor to operate,we would go out of business if we depended solely on Hitachi,thank the stars for Cat, machines working on concrete or tarmac must not be leaking oil as its a big expensive issue here should any oil get on any freshly laid,it will have to be taken up,plenty Bobcats but final drives tend to go out and are expensive,lots of other machines around now that stand up well but they all have the odd little glitch again the Hitachi has the least,there are machines coming in from China that are doing ok so far but we'll have to wait and see.

Re: Good Recommendation for Mini Excavator?? in reply to AJ., 08-15-2014 11:13:10

AJ Do you see Hitachi Mini excvators? These parts Hitachi big excavators are scarce and I have never seen a Hitachi mini in this area. You are right the next batch may be the Korean Doosan coming on strong.

Re: Good Recommendation for Mini Excavator?? in reply to rtr, 08-11-2014 12:33:38

You got to consider what you need on the machine,most midi excavators doing utility work will have a swivel boom,the swivel boom has its plus and minus,but if you don't need it don't have it,there are too many joints that wear and the boom flops about and that applies to all makes,there are hundreds of midi's doing utility and contractors work in my area,a lot of the work they do is railway arch refurbishment,break out the old floors,knock internal walls etc that were built in the old days with sand and cement,the machine that stands up best is the Hitachi EX45-2,(Kubota engine) the Komatsu PC40 would be a close second,Kubota are good enough but not poplar,the cabs were not liked,lots of trouble with the valves leaking and pin joints wear,machines here have to be tested annually,the machines I am referring to would be working machines,the Case of the same size was favored by some customers and they do ok too,they have a good dealer backup and were cheaper to buy new,the Hitachi EX45 at about 4.5 ton,big or small Hitachi build the best excavators of all.

Re: Good Recommendation for Mini Excavator?? in reply to AJ., 08-12-2014 03:59:07

Boy where did you get all this information First of all the NUMBER one selling mini excavator usa wide is Kubota first followed by BobCat second. Now that blows the KUBOTA not poplar statement. Case never made a mini they BOUGHT Kubota ones and rebadged them for awhil then went to selling another rebadged machine. Dealer support on a Hatchi in us... Very Limited. Komatsu minis OK but again not a lot sold.

Re: Good Recommendation for Mini Excavator?? in reply to rtr, 08-11-2014 12:33:38

Ritchie Bros. auctioneers are always selling Kabota & Bobcat rental machines, some well-taken care of, at their many auction yards. At their web site you can look up past sales prices by year & state. If you haul it on a one-ton truck, how are you loading & unloading? Looks like you'll need a trailer. Yoder & Frey sometimes sell a dozen mini-excavators at a time at their PA site.

Re: Good Recommendation for Mini Excavator?? in reply to rtr, 08-11-2014 12:33:38

For the dollar the KUBOTA ones are a pretty good buy. Good specs and good parts support and always sell well. I have a U 35 right now 8000 lb unit. Have had several over the years, will never be without one. where are you located? I know of a few priced right around.

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